FAO releases action plan for antibiotic resistance

FAO will help countries develop strategies for tackling the spread of antimicrobial resistance in their food supply chains.

The Food and Agricultural Organization released this statement just before a high-level UN event on September 21st in New York, where the UN General Assembly will discuss the significant risk to human health posed by ‘antimicrobial resistance’ (AMR) and its connection to and impact on agriculture.

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According to FAO's Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance: "Antimicrobial medicines play a critical role in the treatment of diseases of farm animals and plants. Their use is essential to food security, to our well-being, and to animal welfare. However, the misuse of these drugs, associated with the emergence and spread of antimicrobial-resistant micro-organisms, places everyone at great risk."